An Afternoon of Garden Delights
Lotusland Acknowledges Three Decades of Horticultural Achievement
Written by Joan Tapper | Photography by Elizabeth Messina and Isaac Hernandez
It was truly a celebration of “Where the Wild Things Grow” on Saturday, July 22, when Ganna Walska Lotusland opened its grounds to patrons of its annual fundraising gala, sponsored by Nora McNeely Hurley and Michael Hurley, in memory of Marjorie Reeds McNeely, with co-chairs Joseph Marek, Ashley Adelson, Caroline Thompson, and Merryl Brown. This year the always glittering and sold-out event not only marked the 30th anniversary of public access to the world-renowned garden but also paid homage to the living collection of rare and endangered plant species on the property.
Guests began their afternoon with a stroll through the gardens, pausing along the way to strike a pose for photographer Kim Reierson, listen to the sounds of Tingsha in the Japanese Garden, marvel at Eros Biox of LA Stilt Circus, enjoy a tarot card reading by Mary Wessely, and choose seeds from the plant collection to take home.
There were botanical elixirs to sip, cocktails by The Flair Project, wine by Presqu’ile Winery, and hors d’oeuvres by Duo Catering, which also provided the gourmet al fresco dinner, with wine pairings by Antica Terra, on the Great Lawn.
After dinner, guest auctioneer Geoff Green, of the Foundation for City College—with special appearances by James Brayton Hall of the Garden Conservancy and August Bernstein of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel—led spirited bidding for six spectacular items, Among the prizes were a VIP Las Vegas Experience with Katy Perry, a one-of-a-kind jeweled pendant from Silverhorn, and an opportunity to design your own garden pergola or greenhouse with acclaimed architecture firm Shubin Donaldson.
Of course, there were other treasures growing all around, an ongoing botanical tribute to the vision and generosity of the garden’s founder, Ganna Walska herself.
